Glen Burnie Sex Crime Lawyer

Glen Burnie Sex Crime Attorney

If you’re facing serious legal matters like sexual assault or child pornography charges, or having to register on Maryland’s sex offender registry, you need an experienced Glen Burnie sex crime attorney. Early intervention from an attorney is critical to defend your rights, as delays can lead to irreversible harm. When you partner with our team, we can provide immediate, confidential representation to protect you.

About The Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA,

When facing charges, it’s imperative to call a Glen Burnie sex crime lawyer right away. You cannot afford to take chances with your defense or delay calling a lawyer. At The Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, PA, we understand the serious nature of sex crimes. You can rely on our attorneys for a thorough, aggressive defense against any sexual offense charge. We offer experienced defense representation throughout Maryland.

Fighting a sex crime charge can be as tough, if not tougher, than fighting a violent crime charge. The rest of your life is at stake. If you are convicted, you may be required to register as a sex offender in Maryland and on national registries. Registering as a sex offender can affect your ability to get or maintain a job, find housing, or have a relationship with your children. In addition, you typically face jail or prison time, depending on the details of the offense.

We know sex crime defense requires familiarity with forensic evidence and procedures. You also need a lawyer who can establish the facts of the case. When appropriate, we work with investigators to determine both sides of the story and counter the prosecution’s case. We have experience in local courtrooms across Maryland courthouses and deep knowledge of Maryland’s complicated sex crime laws.

Types of Sex Crime Charges We Handle

Sex crime charges range significantly in type and severity. Some are misdemeanors, though most are felonies. At our firm, we have experience with defense against a full range of sex crime charges, including:

• Rape, statutory, and date rape
• Aggravated rape
• Possession and distribution of child pornography
• Child physical and sexual abuse
• Prostitution and solicitation
• Internet sex crimes
• Indecent exposure

This is not a complete list, and if you need help defending against sex crime charges, reach out to our office right away. Also, if you have been wrongfully accused of the physical or sexual assault of your child, we can also represent you in family court. We have considerable family law experience and are well known in the legal community. Reach out to a sex crime lawyer near you, discuss all of our available legal services, and learn how we can help.

Rape vs. Sexual Offense in Maryland

Rape is just one serious type of sex crime. In Maryland, it’s distinguished from other sexual offenses, which are charged in degrees. The factors that influence how you are charged with a rape or a sexual offense include:

• Consent vs. the use of force
• The alleged victim’s age
• Incapacity or inability to consent
• Alleged aggravating factors such as weapons use, injuries, or multiple offenses

Maryland’s rape statute covers sexual acts conducted through the use of force or threat without consent, but other sexual offenses may involve consent. Rape is always a felony charge, whereas some forms of sexual offenses are considered misdemeanors, as is the case with Fourth Degree Sexual Offense or Indecent Exposure.

Defenses Against Sex Crime Allegations in Maryland

Your lawyer can come up with an effective defense strategy based on the evidence. Some of the most common defenses against serious sex crime allegations in Maryland include:

• Alibi. If you were not present at the scene of the crime, it’s easy to show that you could not have committed it. A solid alibi is one that is supported by credible witness statements, photographic or video graphic evidence, or receipts that indicate you were elsewhere when the sex crime occurred.
• Misidentification. People misidentify each other all the time. Even if the alleged victim in your sex crime case or a supposed witness to the crime picked you out of a lineup, your lawyer may be able to challenge their testimony based on faulty lineup procedures or the unreliability of human memory. An expert witness may be needed to testify on this matter on your behalf.
• DNA issues. While DNA is considered by many to be the gold standard when it comes to evidence in sex crime cases, it’s not infallible. Laboratory errors and evidence mishandling can create reasonable doubt in your case.
• Consent. Consent to the sexual act is one of the most common defenses in rape and other sex crime cases. It’s important to note that consent must be offered freely. You cannot consent to a sexual act if you are under the age of consent, intoxicated or otherwise impaired, developmentally disabled, unconscious or asleep, or subject to a power imbalance that makes it feel impossible to say no.
• False accusations. False accusations are rare, but they do occur in sex crime cases. In most cases, criminal charges are not filed because there is no evidence aside from the alleged victim’s statement.

What to Do When Facing Sex Crime Charges

The steps you take immediately after being charged with a sex crime can have an impact on your case. You should:

1. Hire an attorney immediately. You should hire a sex crime attorney as soon as you discover that you are under investigation. There’s no need to wait until formal charges are brought against you.
2. Avoid talking to the police. You have the right to remain silent, and you should exercise that right. If the police want to interview you, request legal counsel immediately and don’t speak with them until your lawyer gets there.
3. Avoid the alleged victim. You should not contact the alleged victim in person, by phone, by email, or by text regarding the case. If they attempt to contact you, refer them to your lawyer.
4. Don’t post on social media. Avoid posting about the case on social media. The police can use any statements they find against you, and even seemingly innocent statements can be misconstrued.

Try to stay calm and trust your lawyer to handle the details of your case.

What to Expect in a Glen Burnie / Anne Arundel County Sex Crime Case

The trial process can be scary, but having an idea of what to expect can make the entire ordeal less stressful. Here’s a brief summary of how sex crime cases are tried in Glen Burnie:

• Investigation. During this first stage, detectives interview witnesses and suspects and begin to build a case against the defendant.
• Charging paths. In some cases, the police will put out a warrant for your arrest. In others, you’ll receive a summons to appear at court. Either way, it’s very important that you arrive on time.
• Bond and conditions. The judge may want to set no-contact orders, establish monitoring, or create restrictions around children or schools. They do this at the same hearing that sets your bond.
• Discovery. During the discovery stage, the defense and prosecution share information and evidence with each other to make sure that there are no surprises at trial. That evidence can include everything from DNA and forensics to social media posts and the results of surveillance operations.
• Pretrial motions. If the defense wants to suppress statements or raise questions about search warrants, identification issues, or other points of contention, they do it during pretrial motions.
• Plea negotiations. The defense has the opportunity to try to negotiate a plea bargain with the prosecution before the case goes to court.
• Trial. If no agreement is reached, the case will go to trial, where a judge or jury will decide the defendant’s fate. Cases are generally heard at the District Court in Glen Burnie or the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County.

You can rely on your Glen Burnie sex crime attorney to offer guidance and assistance throughout the entire legal process. If you have any questions about what to expect during any stage, don’t be afraid to ask.

When It Makes Sense to Accept a Plea Bargain

In some cases, you may be able to negotiate a plea bargain with the prosecution that reduces your charges or helps you avoid having to register with the sex offender database. If your lawyer believes that the prosecution’s evidence against you is strong and there will be a significant emotional bias to overcome in court, it may make more sense to take a plea deal. When in doubt, ask your attorney for advice regarding what to expect.

Consequences of a Conviction in Glen Burnie

In 2023, there were 1,973 reported rape cases in Maryland. In 2024, two out of every 1,000 people in the United States were raped. If you have been accused of such a crime, your attorney can work hard to help you avoid a conviction, although when that’s not possible, they can help you avoid the most serious penalties associated with the charges.

In Maryland, penalties for a sex crime conviction include imprisonment in a local facility like Ordnance Road Correctional Center, fines, and mandatory sex offender registration.

Maryland relies on a system to classify convicted offenders into one of three tiers based on the severity of the crime, which determines the length of their registration period. Here’s what to expect:

• Tier I requires 15 years of registration and generally includes less severe offenses like fourth-degree sex offenses.
• Tier II requires 25 years for a conviction for offenses like the distribution of child pornography or human trafficking.
• Tier III mandates lifetime registration for the most serious crimes, such as those involving incest or kidnapping.

A conviction can make your life challenging in multiple ways due to background checks and the public nature of being included on the registry. This is why it’s crucial to hire an experienced attorney to avoid ending up on the sex offender registry.

FAQs

Q: Why Should I Hire a Sex Crime Lawyer?

A: You should hire a sex crime lawyer to help protect you from a conviction, severe penalties, and long-term consequences. A lawyer can build a defense strategy tailored to your case and may be able to reduce or dismiss charges. They can communicate with Maryland law enforcement for you and protect your public image, which is often important because of the social stigma associated with sex crime charges.

Q: What Happens When I Call a Sex Crimes Lawyer in Glen Burnie?

A: When you call a sex crimes lawyer in Glen Burnie, they set up an initial confidential consultation. Once hired, your attorney can start reviewing evidence and exploring which defenses can help your situation. Your attorney can begin poking holes in the prosecution’s case against you and negotiating down your charges.

Q: What Is the Statute of Limitations for Sex Crimes in Maryland?

A: There is no statute of limitations for felony sex crimes in Maryland, which allows for prosecution at any time. For misdemeanor sex offenses, the time limit is usually one to three years, depending on the specific crime and its circumstances. Each case is different, which is why it’s worth meeting with an experienced attorney.

Q: What Does It Cost to Hire a Sex Crimes Lawyer in Glen Burnie?

A: Each attorney determines their own fee arrangements, so it can be challenging to provide reliable information about what it costs to hire a sex crimes lawyer in Glen Burnie. At our law firm, we offer free initial consultations to discuss our written fee agreements and what’s included in our fees so that there aren’t any financial surprises.

Hire a Sex Crime Attorney Serving Glen Burnie

Serious crimes require a serious, effective, and knowledgeable defense attorney. We are compassionate with our clients but aggressive in the courtroom when defending their legal rights. If you need to hire a sex crime attorney, you can turn to us for even the most challenging of cases.

We serve Anne Arundel County and the surrounding areas from our office in Glen Burnie, and we have an additional office in Columbia. Our office is conveniently located right in the heart of Glen Burnie, near Maryland Route 2, with plenty of client parking. To get the defense you deserve in your sex crime case, contact us to schedule your free case evaluation.